Getting Here
Ramat Niseko is located in Hirafu Village (the main Niseko ski village) approximately 150km away from Sapporo, the largest city on the island of Hokkaido (Japan). The closest airport to Niseko’s affordable ski lodge is the Sapporo – New Chitose Airport which is approximately 1 hour from Sapporo.
GETTING TO SAPPORO
BY AIR
If you are flying internationally, we recommend flying directly into Sapporo’s New Chitose Airport, as Tokyo’s international airport (Narita) is 90 minutes away from their domestic airport (Haneda) where most travellers would need to catch their connecting flights.
By Train
While a train from Tokyo to Sapporo is not yet avaiable, a high speed rail network linking Hokkaido to Honshu is currently under construction.
This will result in an approximate 5hr train ride from Tokyo to Kutchan Station, and is expected to be completed by 2030.
GETTING TO HIRAFU VILLAGE
QUICK LINKS
BY BUS
This is the recommended method of getting to Hirafu Village from New Chitose Airport.
The bus leaves directly from the airport and drops you in the middle of Hirafu Village (Hirafu Welcome Centre) where you can call us to come and pick you up. The journey takes about 2.5 hours from the airport and will make a mid way stop so that you can stretch your legs and grab something to eat.
BY TRAIN
Train is the second best, but not our recommended method of getting to Niseko.
Kutchan Station is the closest train station to Ramat Niseko. However, please note that traveling by train often requires a transfer in Otaru, with wait times ranging from 10 to 60 minutes. Additionally, storing ski gear on the train can be challenging. Ramat Niseko does not provide lodge transfers from Kutchan Station, so you’ll need to arrange your own transportation, such as a taxi or bus, to reach the lodge.
BY PRIVATE TRANSFER
Private Transfers are a bit more costly but offer a convenient and direct way to reach Niseko.
Your driver will meet you at the arrival gate and take you straight to Ramat Lodge or Snowgum Lodge. The 2.5 hour journey includes a restroom and food break halfway. This option is ideal if your flight doesn’t align with bus schedules.
Private Transfers are quite limited, so you need to book early to ensure availability.
ONCE IN NISEKO
See below a Local Map showing the direct area around Ramat and Snowgum Lodges in East Hirafu Village. See our Getting Around Niseko page for more information.
Ramat Niseko is located in East Hirafu Village (actually named Izumikyo 2) which is a 2 minute drive from the busiest Niseko ski resort, Grand Hirafu.
The lodges are a convenient 2 minute walk to the nearest shuttle stop with buses that run every 30 minutes to the Grand Hirafu ski lifts, stopping at the Grand Hirafu Gondola and Hirafu Welcome Centre. The other shuttle stop for other lines including Hanazono Shuttle and Niseko United are located at Midtown Niseko only 350m (4 min walk) from the lodges. See our Getting Around Niseko page for more information.
Lawson’s convenience store is located only 350m (4 min walk) away, while 7Eleven convenience store is 600m (8 min walk) away. Supermarkets such as Maxvalu and Co-op are also located in Kutchan town, about 7 minutes by car.
There are an abundance of restaurants surrounding the lodges within a 10 minute walk.